Thermal management in a gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming machine has thermal control components for controlling its internal temperature. Temperatures within the cabinet of the machine may be controlled by either monitoring the temperatures near or of heat-producing components, such as the CPU, video controllers, and the like, or by monitoring ambient temperatures in zones or areas within the machine. These thermal control components include a thermal management sub-system, fans, baffles, digital thermometers, and control signal alarms. Also included is a thermal specification profile or table that includes thermal data for heat-producing components in the machine. Such data may include high temperature thresholds, such as an alert and alarm temperatures, instructions or actions to be taken when those temperatures are met, and which elements within the machine to use, such as baffles, fans, and the like. In this manner, the internal temperatures of a gaming machine may be more finely controlled and elements within the machine for cooling are used only when needed.

1 . A gaming machine having one or more heat-emanating components, the gaming machine comprising:
 a master gaming controller;   one or more baffles;   one or more fans;   a thermal management component for regulating temperatures in the gaming machine;   a temperature measuring device having a temperature-detection span;   a memory storing a thermal specification profile corresponding to the one or more heat-emanating components, wherein the thermal specification profile contains temperature range data.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a fan sensor. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 2  wherein the fan sensor is connected to the one or more fans. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a duct positioning sensor. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an airflow sensor. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the memory further stores histograms of past temperature readings. 
   
   
       7 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the one or more heat-emanating components include self-measuring components and non-self-measuring components. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 7  wherein the non-self-measuring are configured within the temperature-detection span of the temperature measuring device. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the thermal specification profile includes one or more temperature ranges for the one or more heat-emanating components, a temperature range having a low temperature and one or more high temperatures. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 9  wherein the one or more temperatures includes a first high temperature and a second high temperature, the first high temperature being lower than the second high temperature. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the thermal specification profile includes a primary action to be taken when temperatures rise in the gaming machine and a first cooling element to be used to lower the temperatures. 
   
   
       12 . A gamine machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the thermal specification profile includes a secondary action to be taken when temperatures in the gaming machine and a second cooling element to be used to lower the temperatures. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a power management sub-system. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 13  wherein the thermal management component is connected to the power management sub-system. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 13  wherein one or more peripheral devices are connected to the power management sub-system and are controlled by the thermal management component. 
   
   
       16 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  further comprising one or more alarm indicators, an alarm indicator being coupled to the thermal management component. 
   
   
       17 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the thermal management component is connected to the master gaming controller. 
   
   
       18 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  further comprising one or more temperature zones wherein the one or more fans operate to regulate temperature in the one or more zones. 
   
   
       19 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the one or more fans include input fans and outlet fans. 
   
   
       20 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 18  wherein the one or more baffles operate to regulate temperature in the one or more zones. 
   
   
       21 . A method of regulating temperature in a gaming machine, the method comprising:
 obtaining a temperature reading of a component;   comparing the temperature reading with one or more threshold temperatures;   determining whether there is an out-of-range temperature condition based on the comparison;   if there is an out-of-range condition, determining if the out-of-range condition can be addressed using a temperature-related control signal; and   if the condition can be addressed using a temperature-related control signal, transmitting the control signal to a fan or a baffle to regulate the temperature.   
   
   
       22 . A method as recited in  claim 21  further comprising changing airflow in the gaming machine. 
   
   
       23 . A method as recited in  claim 21  further comprising adjusting the one or more baffles to increase or decrease airflow across the component. 
   
   
       24 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein obtaining temperature reading further comprises:
 utilizing a temperature-measuring device having a temperature-detection span.   
   
   
       25 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein the threshold temperatures include a first high temperature and a second high temperature. 
   
   
       26 . A method as recited in  claim 21  wherein transmitting the control signal to a fan or baffle further comprises:
 examining a thermal specification profile storing instructions relating to regulating the temperature.   
   
   
       27 . A method as recited in  claim 21  further comprises utilizing a thermal management component for controlling temperatures in the gaming machine. 
   
   
       28 . A gaming machine comprising:
 means for obtaining a temperature reading of a component;   comparison means for comparing the temperature reading with one or more threshold temperatures;   a temperature condition module for determining whether there is an out-of-range temperature condition based on the comparison;   means for determining if the out-of-range condition can be addressed using a temperature-related control signal; and   means for transmitting the control signal to a fan or a baffle to regulate the temperature.   
   
   
       29 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 28  wherein the means for obtaining a temperature reading of a component has a temperature-detection span. 
   
   
       30 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 28  further comprises a storage means for storing a thermal specification profile containing the threshold temperatures including a first high temperature and a second high temperature. 
   
   
       31 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 30  wherein the thermal specification profile further comprises instructions relating to regulating the temperature. 
   
   
       32 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 30  wherein the thermal specification profile further comprises cooling element data. 
   
   
       33 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 30  wherein the thermal specification profile further comprises alarm priority data. 
   
   
       34 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 28  further comprising one or more temperature zones wherein the fan and the baffle operate to regulate temperature in the one or more zones. 
   
   
       35 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 28  further comprising a fan tachometer, an airflow sensor, and a duct position sensor. 
   
   
       36 . A gaming machine as recited in  claim 28  further comprising one or more alarm indicators for indicating that an out-of-temperature range condition has occurred.